By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday declared three senatorial seats vacant following the deaths of members of the 10th Senate.
The vacancies affect Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Akpabio made the announcement during plenary, noting that the development was necessitated by the demise of the affected lawmakers in line with constitutional provisions.
“Due to the tragedies that have befallen the 10th Senate, vacancies have been created for midterm elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that we fill the vacancies created by the demise of our colleagues,” he said.
Citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Akpabio formally declared the seats vacant.
“I hereby declare vacant Enugu North Senatorial District. The seat is hereby declared vacant,” he said.
He also declared vacant the seat representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State, as well as that of Rivers South-East Senatorial District in Rivers State.
Akpabio subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies within the timeframe stipulated by law.
“In line with the provisions of our Constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission is accordingly mandated to conduct fresh polls to fill these vacant senatorial seats in the affected states within the time specified in the Constitution, which is about 30 days from this declaration,” Akpabio said.
The development sets the stage for fresh electoral contests in the affected districts as political parties prepare to fill the vacant seats in the upper legislative chamber.